The first edition of the Italian Yacht Design Conference

Last week the first edition of the Italian Yacht Design Conference, a new event on nautical design organized by AsProNaDi, the association for nautical designers and POLI.design, a consortium providing the Master in Yacht Design, was held at Politecnico di Milano.
Several renowned yacht designers and entrepreneurs took part in the event and gave their personal insight on the future of the sector, focusing on innovation, brand and marketing, as well as new aesthetics and comfort in leisure boating.
Among the speakers, Chris Bangle, formerly working in car design for BMW and now with Sanlorenzo, Massimo Perotti again from Sanlorenzo, Luca Bassani, founder of Wally, Lorenzo Argento, Giovanni Ceccarelli, Aldo Cichero, Luca Dini, Umberto Felci, Gianguido Girotti from Bènèteau, Franco Gnessi, Massimo Gregori, Maurizio Navone, Massimo Paperini, Marijana Radovic, Luis Felipe Rocco, Andrea Vallicelli, Gianni Zuccon.
Giovanni Ceccarelli, President of AsProNaDi, said: “The audience full of students demonstrates that our sector is growing. I expect influences among the sailing and the motor yacht worlds, not only for what concerns the hulls of which we have several examples, but also a reinterpreted foiling for motorboats to increase the comfort and reduce consumptions. We are living an exciting moment similar only to the magical Sixties, which gave a personality to the nautical sector and created an audience for the made in Italy. Italy has an advantage if compared to the rest of the world: it is able to produce unique products for what relates to style and functionality. This is the real surplus of the Made in Italy. The future of design is for those clients who see the sea no longer as a status symbol but as a lifestyle choice”.
Massimo Perotti, President of Sanlorenzo, outlined: “In all my activity of manager and entrepreneur I’ve always believed in design as the motor of the development of the market, and I’ve always searched for an innovation both technological and functional. The crisis has changed the market: together with the line built on our historical values, we are working on innovative vessels looking up to the new needs of the clients, who nowadays show passion and will to live the sea. Less show off, more navigation. Less consumption, more comfort and long range navigation.”
Chris Bangle, designer at Sanlorenzo, said: “The Design is not mere shape, but consistency in the use of innovation. There is no limit to imagination, it’s a matter of finding the right balance among innovation, use of materials and clients’ needs.”
During the event, a new competition dedicated to young designers has been launched by AsProNaDi: Diporthesis, the competition for thesis concerning leisure boating. The official regulation will be presented during next days and the competition will end at the next Genoa Boat Show, where the projects will be presented thanks to the collaboration with Ucina.